Taking it all off and going caseless - iPhone 15 Pro Max
Today I’m taking it all off. I’ve covered up my iPhones since the original, and now I’m giving the naked iPhone life a real shot: six months with no case and no screen protector on my iPhone 15 Pro Max. I’ve never done this, and it’s freaking me out a little.
Open, marvel, protect
Since the first iPhone, my pattern has been the same: open it, marvel at the design, run my hands over the materials, push all the buttons. The industrial design has always been amazing (okay, maybe not the 3G and 3GS). Then I’d cover it up, usually with a case I’d bought before the phone arrived, Apple’s or third-party, and only take it off every couple of months to clean it.
A case protected against drops, missing my pocket, or the cat knocking it off the counter, and I never worried where I set it down. A glass matte screen protector rounded out the safety net. This very iPhone fell about 6½ feet from a window in my shower onto tile, and the case and screen protector totally saved it; there’s just the slightest dent in the titanium.
Beyond protection, I like customizing the look and the extra grip. And there’s the anxiety: I get annoyed by any scratch, on my phone, a new car, even new kitchen cabinets. But after a while you can’t keep up with the scratches life throws at you. You have to stop worrying about the little things.
Off it comes
Look at this glorious metal and glass sandwich. Removing the matte screen protector makes me sad too; it really cuts reflections in bright rooms and makes the iPhone less of a mirror. And there it is, a fully unprotected iPhone that will never look as good as it does right now.
I’m worried about losing the grip. This is now a slippery $1,000 bill that wants to fall out of pockets and slide off nightstands. A case teaches you to let your guard down, so this is a big mental shift. I tried before with the iPhone 13 mini, but the shiny red glass and aluminum was too awesome not to protect, and it lasted a couple of weeks.
This time I think I can do it. I bought AppleCare+, which helps a little, though Apple won’t replace the whole iPhone for a few scratches. For the first few days I’ll need to pay close attention to how I hold it, slide it in and out of my pockets, and set it down. I’ll give you an update, and if I destroy it, it’ll be time for the iPhone 16 anyway.
Links
Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. See my ethics statement.
